40B overflow question?

[jmccoy62003]

So I’m going to be drilling a 40b myself for the first time. My question is how big of a overflow should I purchase. I have been considering a modular marine 800gph.

800 gph LOW PROFILE Overflow Box with REMOVABLE WEIR

BRAND NEW SUPERIOR DESIGN! MODULAR MARINE'S 800 gph LOW PROFILE OVERFLOW BOX Features:- 800+ GPH capability - Entire skimmer box pulls off for easy cleaning! - Slimmest and shortest skimmer box on the market! - This design keeps water line hidden behind trim - Works with rimless, eurobrace...

modularmarine.com

Do you think this will work or should I go one bigger? The 1200gph? It also gives an option of 1/2” or 3/4” drains. With this being my first time doing this I want to do it right. Looking to keep mainly sps and lps.
Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[lpsouth1978]

I think the 800gph would be more than enough. I would go with the larger drains. I have the Eshopps Eclipse S on my 40B and it does a great job @ 600gph with 1" drains.

 

[Water Dog]

Get the 1200 gph overflow and have him upgrade it to 1” drains using bulkheads instead of the 3/4” uniseals. I prefer the larger 12” 1200 gph overflow as it gives you enough room in the external box to run a true Beananimal set up with u pipes (Street elbow & standard elbow) for the primary and secondary drains so you can tune it to be silent. The smaller 8” 800 gph extenal box is substaially tighter and if you run a true 3 drain Beananimal, you’ll only be able to run straight pipes, making silent tuning more difficult. Here’s my 1200 gph Modular Marine overflow with upgraded 1” bulkhead drains on my 57 gallon tank which has the same footprint as your 40 breeder At 36x18.

 

[jmccoy62003]

Ok thanks! I was looking at your thread yesterday! Nice build! Thanks for the advice.

Get the 1200 gph overflow and have him upgrade it to 1” drains using bulkheads instead of the 3/4” uniseals. I prefer the larger 12” 1200 gph overflow as it gives you enough room in the external box to run a true Beananimal set up with u pipes (Street elbow & standard elbow) for the primary and secondary drains so you can tune it to be silent. The smaller 8” 800 gph extenal box is substaially tighter and if you run a true 3 drain Beananimal, you’ll only be able to run straight pipes, making silent tuning more difficult. Here’s my 1200 gph Modular Marine overflow with upgraded 1” bulkhead drains on my 57 gallon tank which has the same footprint as your 40 breeder At 36x18.

 

[Acrophobia]

I’m setting up a 40B as well.

How about the Exotic Marine overflow?

 

[jmccoy62003]

Follow up question? So if I run the 1200gph overflow with the 1” drains will this make it louder due to more flow?

 

[William Mumford]

I used the Eshopps and flipped the bracket upside down to get the over flow as close to the top as you can. The diamond blade that they supply is so good. Eshopps never returned any messages I sent to them regarding my overflow and the fact that it was not threaded correctly. but as far as drilling it was awsome.

 

[Water Dog]

Follow up question? So if I run the 1200gph overflow with the 1” drains will this make it louder due to more flow?

No. You will be running a return pump that is appropriate for a 40 breeder. Then, you will tune the primary drain to be silent using a gate valve. So ultimately, the flow will be determined by the return pump you choose. The reason I upgraded to the 1” bulkheads is because I’m using a pre built sump with 1” drain bulkheads. If I stuck with the 3/4” plumbing, I’d imagine I would have had trouble purging the air out of the primary drain at the 3/4” to 1” transition. If you’re going with a DIY sump, keep the 3/4” plumbing, although I’d still upgtade to bulkheads over the uniseals.

Also note, when you set up your plumbing, put the gate valve on your primary drain nearest to the drain output to your sump as it will purge the air much easier this way.

 

[camineet]

I'm doing a 30gal rimless build and am thinking of going with the 1200gph modular marine /w upgraded 1" drains as you suggested Water Dog.

Is there anything I might be missing about this setup that would make it non-viable? Such as, for a 30gal setup, the return pump or pumps would be smaller, such as a 300gph total. Is there anything problematic about having 1" drains with lower water flow? I can't imagine there would be. As long as there's enough power to get everything started, I would think water would flow fine regardless of piping size as long as it's not ridiculous. But I really don't know because I've never run a sump before. Would the drainage system perhaps not be able to get started with 1" drains and such low water flow pump or pumps?

Planning to go with the Reef Octopus 24a sump

Octo Reef Sump 24A

Octo Reef Sumps offer attractive design, the versatility and features you need, and they’re built to last. Each Octo Reef sump is hand-built from solid acrylic for years of trouble-free service. They’ve got you covered with plenty of room for your skimmer and return pump, and they also feature a...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Yes, it's a large for a 30gal tank but I want to go premade and can't help but be enamored with this sump. Planning to create an exposed system rather than in cabinet, so sump cosmetics are important. And I just don't like the wraparound design of the smaller cube version of this sump. The 24a has a 1" drain, so I'm very glad I found your post about going with that size in the overflow and avoiding air purge issues.

Thanks a lot if you reply.

 

[Water Dog]

It’ll work fine. Remember, you will ve using a gate valve to throttle back the primary drain to achieve a full siphon. If your pump is on the smaller side, you’ll just throttle back the gate valve a little more to balance your flow needs.

 

[Solga]

I just ordered the 800gph overflow for my 40B from Modular Marine about a week ago. I have not received it yet, or I would let you know my thoughts, but from what I read about them, they are a good overflow. I decided on the 800gph because I am not going to go crazy with the flow through my sump, and will take care of the flow needs through powerheads.

 

[camineet]

It’ll work fine. Remember, you will ve using a gate valve to throttle back the primary drain to achieve a full siphon. If your pump is on the smaller side, you’ll just throttle back the gate valve a little more to balance your flow needs.

Great thanks for replying.

 

[Yates273]

Look into Fiji overflows also. I used one (800 gph) on my 40 breeder and it’s great. Not to mention awesome customer service.

 

[Bakedpwn]

Get the 1200 gph overflow and have him upgrade it to 1” drains using bulkheads instead of the 3/4” uniseals. I prefer the larger 12” 1200 gph overflow as it gives you enough room in the external box to run a true Beananimal set up with u pipes (Street elbow & standard elbow) for the primary and secondary drains so you can tune it to be silent. The smaller 8” 800 gph extenal box is substaially tighter and if you run a true 3 drain Beananimal, you’ll only be able to run straight pipes, making silent tuning more difficult. Here’s my 1200 gph Modular Marine overflow with upgraded 1” bulkhead drains on my 57 gallon tank which has the same footprint as your 40 breeder At 36x18.

Nice tank. Did you paint the black or is that black glass?
Do you have a picture of the 3 pipe set up you mention?

 

[Water Dog]

Nice tank. Did you paint the black or is that black glass?
Do you have a picture of the 3 pipe set up you mention?

Thanks… it’s painted. I don’t have a picture of a three pipe set up as I’m running a 2 pipe Herbie because of the constraints of my Trigger 26 sump.

 

[Bakedpwn]

Thanks… it’s painted. I don’t have a picture of a three pipe set up as I’m running a 2 pipe Herbie because of the constraints of my Trigger 26 sump

Gotcha. Np. I may get a shadow box and i believe that's what your talking about. Just not sure if 16 inch overflow is too big for 60b which is 18.5 wide